Carole Stevenson

Carole Jean Stevenson came into this world as a bright shining light on November 21, 1942. She passed away peacefully on June 27, 2024, in the arms of her devoted daughter Heather and surrounded by close family and friends. A lifelong resident of North Texas, Carole graduated from Texas Women’s University in 1965, having earned a degree in English. Later, in 1973, she transformed her passion for the English language into proficiency with computer programming languages in a career as a numbers analyst for the Xerox Corporation. Carole enjoyed over 36 years of success at Xerox, where she helped blaze a trail of future opportunities for women in business and technology. During her time at Xerox, she forged many endearing and lasting friendships.

From an early age, Carole fostered a deep love for travel and adventures. Determined to visit as many global destinations as possible, she began her very first true adventure at the age of sixteen when she traveled solo by bus to Canada. That fledgling trip was the beginning of a lifelong passion. Whether it was white water river rafting, hot air ballooning, petting tigers, howling with dingoes, hanging with rock stars, traveling through space and time in the science fiction novels she devoured, or keeping up with her daughter who was the treasure of her life, Carole was in constant adventure mode. Throughout her life, Carole visited numerous destinations in the US, England, France, Italy, took a solo trip to the Arctic Tundra to see wild polar bears, and most fantastic of all, she and Heather journeyed to Australia in 1986, creating many favorite memories, leading them both to refer to it as, “the trip of a lifetime”. Later in life, she continued to cultivate her spirit of adventure using modern technology, thus enabling her to continue her lifelong pursuit of traveling to Africa. She would tell friends, “I went to Africa yesterday” as she described the fabulous safaris that she joined led by writer and safari guide James Hendry live on via Facebook.

Carole also had an eclectic and passionate love for music, especially seeing her favorites playing live. Beginning with the greats from the 50s and 60s such as Elvis, The Beatles, The Doors, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Cat Stevens, to titans of the grunge, punk, and alternative scenes like Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, INXS, The Sex Pistols, The Cure, and many more. While never a “groupie”, on many occasions, she leveraged her disarming wit and irresistible charm to find her way backstage to meet the band. Years later, when she and Heather were attending a concert together, Carole said to Heather, “If you want to get somewhere in life and there are barriers in your way, just walk on through and act like you’re supposed to be there.” Walking past barriers like they weren’t even there is exactly what Carole did, both at concerts and in life, leaving a legacy of courageous confidence to her daughter Heather, and sharing her kind, yet assertive nature with the world.

In her spare time, Carole enjoyed all types of arts and crafts, and especially loved taking art classes with her cousin Judi and daughter Heather. She loved sewing Heather’s childhood Halloween costumes, crocheting scarves and blankets, and especially paper crafting cards and creations as gifts for her family and friends. Carole created art that was as beautiful and diverse as she was.

Carole was preceded on the next leg of her great journey by her cat Chloe, who loved everyone she met, and her cat Flynx, who hated everyone he met, especially Heather. Also, preceding Carole are Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Joey Ramone, and Chris Cornell. Those who have yet to follow Carole on to the next celestial shore are her loving daughter, Heather, son-in-law Chad, grandsons Connor and Dax, Cousin Judi, extended family Arlan, Cindy, Laura, Brock, Linda, Sandi, and dearest friends Pastor Norma, Norma C., Charlotte, and John Trudell. Additionally, Carole was gifted with many other individuals who loved her as their collective “Bonus Mom.” These include Sean, Erik, Shannon, Vanessa, Ashley, Priscilla, Cameron, LaToya, Amy, Cindy Lou Who, Hoopie, Aaronica, Lisa Lou Lou Bear, and El Jeffe Jeffrey.